American Cold War Tanks:
M41 Bulldog (Light Tank):
1953- 1960
Notes: Replaced the outdated Chaffee tanks.
M551 Sheridan:
1969-1996
Notes: An Amphibious and airdeployable light tank. It had Aluminum armor which made it vulnerable to everything, but small arms. They tank was capable of firing 152mm caseless ammo and a missile.
M46 Patton (Medium Tank):
1950s, quickly replaced my the M47
Notes: This tank came into service as an improvement over the M26 Pershing tanks.
M47 Patton (Medium Tank):
1950s - Early 1960s
Notes: Was a pretty short lived tank like the M46 Patton. Both tanks were equipped with 90mm guns.
M48 Patton (Medim Tank):
1953-mid 1990s
Notes: Was the standard Medium tank armored with a 90mm gun until Vietnam. After Vietnam the tank was one of the last American tanks to use the 90mm gun, which was replaced after the Vietnam war with a 105mm gun to keep it up to standard with the M60 tank.
M103 (Heavy Tank):
1957-1974
Notes: One of the first tanks in American service to use the 120mm gun. However Ammunition was loaded as a two piece system. It was designed to counter the Soviet Heavy tanks like the IS-3 and T-10. The tank was quickly phased out due to complications and the fact that heavy tanks were outdated for the modern battlefield.
M60 Patton (MBT):
1961-1997
notes: The first MBT to enter American service as well as being one of the first to use the 105mm gun. It did not see action in Vietnam, as they were either stationed in Europe. However the tank did see action in the Gulf War. The tank has seen more action in Foreign service. It also briefly served along side the newer M1 tanks until it was phased out in 1997.
M60A2 "Starship":
service: 1980s, quickly phased out
Notes: This tank was designed as a place holder for the prototype MBT-70. It featured a laser range finder. It was armored with the same 152mm gun on the Sheridan. It was capable of firing 152mm caseless ammo and the Shillelagh gun launched guided missile. The tank was quickly phased out and replaced with the M60A3 patton. It should also be noted that it was called the Starship because of its space age technology and confusing/complicated controls.
M1 Abrams series (MBT):
1980-Present
Notes: Entering service in 1980 as the M1 Abrams, it was the second MBT to enter service. Early versions were had steel armor an a 105mm gun. These version were soon replaced by the short lived M1IP Abrams in 1984, which had a longer turret. Eventually these were soon upgraded to the M1A1 Abrams in 1985 which gave the tank a 120mm gun. Later upgrades like the M1A1HA and HC gave the tanks depleted uranium armor inserts. At one point in time both the Patton and Abrams tanks served together, however in the late 1990s the Patton was retired from service which left the Abrams as the only tank in American service to this day.
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